Load stabilizing apparatus

ABSTRACT

A load stabilizing apparatus for use on a forklift including a load-receiving fork. The stabilizer includes a pair of arms disposed over such fork and mounted to the forklift at their base by means which provides for rotation about a first horizontally extending axis and a second axis extending transversely to the horizontal axis. Actuating means is provided for controlling positioning of the arms whereby such arms may be rotated about the first axis to retract them to a vertical position so the lift truck can be maneuvered into position to project the fork under a load without interference of such arms. The arms may then be rotated about their horizontal axes to be projected horizontally on opposite sides of the load. The arms may then be rotated about their respective second axis to be clamped together on the load and hold it in position as the load is transported to its destination.

United States Patent 2,950,336 8/1960 Johnson 214/654 Primary Examiner-Gerald M. Forlenza Assistant Examiner-George F. Abraham AttorneyFulwider, Patton, Rieber, Lee & Utecht ABSTRACT: A load stabilizing apparatus for use on a forklift including a load-receiving fork. The stabilizer includes a pair of arms disposed over such fork and mounted to the forklift at their base by means which provides for rotation about a first horizontally extending axis and a second axis extending transversely to the horizontal axis. Actuating means is provided for controlling positioning of the arms whereby such arms may be rotated about the first axis to retract them to a vertical position so the lift truck can be maneuvered into position to project the fork under a load without interference of such arms. The arms may then be rotated about their horizontal axes to be projected horizontally on opposite sides of the load. The 5 arms may then be rotated about their respective second axis to be clamped together on the load and hold it in position as the doad is transported to its destination.

PATENTED JAN] 1 I972 SHEET 1 [1F 2 I NVEN TOR.

7 k 5 19770? NEYS LOAD STABILIZING APPARATUS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The load stabilizing apparatus of present invention relates to an apparatus for maintaining a load stabilized on a forklift truck while such truck is maneuvered about.

2. Description of the Prior Art Load stabilizing devices have been proposed which include arms that may be clamped together on a load. A device of this type is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,145,866. However, devices of this type suffer the shortcoming that the arms are maintained extending horizontally over the load-receiving platform thereby seriously restricting the maneuverability of the forklift truck as it is being maneuvered into position to project the lifting tines under a load.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The load stabilizing apparatus of present invention is characterized by a pair of arms disposed at opposite sides of a load-receiving platform and mounted at their bases by mounting means which provide for rotation thereof about a horizontal axis and also rotation of the respective tines about an axis projecting transversely to the horizontal axis. Actuating means is provided for pivoting the arms about the horizontal axis to retract them to a vertically projecting position while the loadreceiving platform is maneuvered under a load and the tines may then be pivoted to their horizontal positions projecting on opposite sides of the load and then pivoted about their respective transverse axes to be clamped together on such load.

An object of the present invention is to provide a load stabilizing apparatus of the type described which may be operated by a forklift truck operator without leaving his operator's platform.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a load stabilizing apparatus of the type described which can be utilized with a conventional forklift truck.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a load stabilizing apparatus of the type described which is sturdy in construction for stabilizing relatively heavy loads.

These and other objects of the present invention will become apparent from a consideration of the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIGS. 1 and 2 are perspective views of a load stabilizing apparatus embodying the present invention;

FIGS. 3 and 4 are partial top plan views, in enlarged scale, of the load stabilizing apparatus shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 and depicting the arms in their unclamped and clamped positions, respectively;

FIG. 5 is a vertical sectional view, in enlarged scale, taken along the line 5-5 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a horizontal sectional view, in enlarged scale, taken along the line 6-6 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a vertical sectional view taken along the line 7-7 of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a vertical sectional view, in enlarged scale, taken along the line j8-8 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 9 is a vertical sectional view, in enlarged scale, taken along the line 99 of FIG. 4; and

FIG. 10 is a vertical sectional view, in enlarged scale, taken along the line III-10 of FIG. 2.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to FIG. I, the load stabilizing apparatus of present invention is particularly adapted for use on a forklift truck, generally designated 21, and includes a pair of clamping arms 23 and 25 mounted on opposite sides of the lifting fork tines 27. The arms 23 and 25 are carried at their base by respective bearings 31 and 33 which provide for rotation about respective horizontal axes and such arms are pivoted from respective pivot pins 35 and 37 which define pivot axes projecting transversely to the horizontal axes defined by the bearings 31 and 33. Referring to FIG. 5, a hydraulic cylinder 41 is provided for retracting the arms pivotally downwardly to the vertical position shown in FIG. 1 to hold such arms retracted while the forklift truck 21 is maneuvered into position with the fork tines 27 projecting under a load 45. The arms 23 and 25 may then be extended to their horizontal position shown in FIG. 2. A hydraulic clamping cylinder 47 is coupled with such arms to draw them inwardly to clamp them on the load as shown in FIG. 4 to stabilize such load while the truck 21 is maneuvered about.

Referring to FIGS. I and 2, the forklift truck 21 is provided at its front extremity with a pair of upwardly projecting masts 51 which carry the fork tines 27 on their lower extremity for vertical movement to raise the load 45 for being transported. A backing plate 53 is mounted to the upper portion of the masts 51 and has the arms 23 and 25 mounted on the opposite ends thereof.

Referring to FIGS. 4 and 6, the bearings 51 and 33 are mounted directly to the back of the backplate 53 and have respective hollow journals 55 and 57 journaled therein. Each of the journals 55 and 57 have radially projecting ears 61 welded to their outer extremities for receipt of the respective pivot pins 35 and 37 for mounting the respective anns 23 and 25 thereto. Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, L-shaped mounting brackets 63 and 65 include clevis fittings for receipt over the respective ears 61 and have bores therein for receipt of the respective pivot pins 35 and 37. The arms 23 and 25 themselves are mounted from the free extremities of the L-shaped brackets 63 and 65.

The inner ends of the respective journals 55 and 57 have the front ends of radially extending flanges which form lever arms 71 and 73 fixedly secured thereto and a connecting pipe 75 has its opposite ends affixed to the rear extremity of such lever arms.

Referring to FIGS. 5 and 8, a pipe clamp 77 is secured to the pipe 75 adjacent one extremity thereof and has the rod end of the retracting piston 41 connected therewith, the opposite end of such cylinder being carried from the frame of the backplate 53. Referring to FIG. 5, a pair of hydraulic fluid lines 81 and 83 provide hydraulic fluid to the cylinder 41.

Referring to FIGS. 4 and 9, a mounting flange 85 is affixed to the intermediate'portion of the connecting pipe 75 and is formed with an elongated transversely extending slot 87 which receives a mounting bolt 89 for mounting the housing of the clamping cylinder 47 thereto to provide for a predetermined amount of free transverse movement of such cylinder. Still referring to FIG. 4, a first connecting rod 91 is connected on one end with the housing end of the clamping cylinder 47 and has the opposite end thereof projected through the hollow journal 55 and connected with the arm 23 by means of a pivot pin 93. A second connecting rod 95 is connected on one end with the piston end of the clamping cylinder 47 and has its opposite end projected through the hollow journal 57 and connected with the arm 25 by means of a pivot pin 97. Hydraulic fluid is provided to the opposite sides of the piston and of the cylinder 47 by means of a pair of hydraulic fluid lines 101 and 103.

Referring to FIG. 2, a pair of control levers 105 and 107 are mounted within convenient reach of the operators seat 109 for controlling hydraulic fluid flow to the retraction cylinder 41 and clamping cylinder 47 so the operator can operate the stabilizing anns 23 and 25 directly from such seat.

The forklift truck 21 may be utilized to unload cargo from a ships hold where it is maneuvered over relatively uneven layers of cargo thereby necessitating use of the stabilizing arms 23 and 25 to maintain the cargo in place on the fork tines 27. When a load of cargo is to be retrieved, the control lever 105 is moved into position to extend the retraction cylinder 41 (FIG. 5) thereby raising the connecting pipe 75 (FIG. 3) to raise the rear extremity of the lever arms 71 and 73 to rotate the journals 55 and 57 thereby rotating the free ends of the stabilizing arms 23 and 25 downwardly to position such arms vertically at the sides of the masts 51 as shown in HQ. 1. The forklift truck 21 may then be driven to the location of the cargo to be retrieved and easily maneuvered into position to project the tines 27 under such cargo. It is particularly important that the arms 23 and 25 be retracted to their vertical positions so the lift truck operator can make sharp turns adjacent the cargo without the arms 23 and 25 projecting horizontally over the tines and being driven into the cargo to be loaded, or other adjacent cargo.

When the forklift truck 21 has been maneuvered into proper alignment with respect to the cargo being retrieved, the operator may operate the forklift drive to raise the tines 27 and then move the retraction control lever 105 into position to retract the control cylinder 41 to draw the rear extremities of the lever arms 71 and 73 downwardly thereby rotating the journals 55 and 57 to swing the free extremities of the respective arms 23 and 25 upwardly to dispose such arms in their horizontal positions as shown in FIG. 2.

Thereafter, the clamping control lever 107 may be moved into position to retract the clamping cylinder 47 to draw the connecting rods 91 and 95 inwardly to clamp the arms 23 and 25 together on the sides of the load 45 as shown in FIG. 4. The truck 21 may then be maneuvered about and moved relatively rapidly over the uneven layer of cargo on which it is supported to the destination for the load 45 without danger of such load being tipped off the tines 27. When the destination is reached, the clamping lever 107 may be moved into position to extend the clamping cylinder 47 and open the anus 23 and 25 to the position shown in FIG. 3 and the truck 21 backed away from such load.

From the foregoing detailed description it will be apparent that the load stabilizing apparatus of present invention provides a convenient and economical means for maintaining a load stabilized on a lift fork while the forklift truck is maneuvered about. Further, the stabilizing arms are readily retractable so they will not hinder maneuvering of the forklift truck as it is being moved into position for receiving a load of cargo.

Various modifications and changes may be made with regard to the foregoing detailed description without departing from the spirit of the invention.

lclaim:

1. Load stabilizing apparatus comprising:

a load platform;

a pair of arms disposed at opposite sides of said load platform;

mount means carrying said arms at their bases for rotation about a first axis extending substantially horizontally and a second axis extending transverse to said first axis; actuating means coupled with said mount means for pivoting said arms about their respective first axes to selectively retract said arms from a horizontally projecting position to a vertical retracted position and for pivoting said arms about said second axis to move said arms from a release position to a clamping position; and control means for controlling said actuating means. 2. Load stabilizing apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein: said actuating means includes a floating hydraulic cylinder disposed intermediate said arms and a pair of connecting rods connecting opposite ends of said cylinder with said respective arms and a hydraulic pressure source connected with said hydraulic cylinder for supplying hydraulic pressure thereto. 3. Load stabilizing apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein: said mount means includes a pair of horizontally disposed bearings disposed adjacent the base of said arms, hollow journals carried in said bearings and formed with through passages, said arms being pivotally carried from the respective outer extremities of said journals, a coupling member offset from said journals and coupling them together; and said actuating means includes first drive means connected with said coupling member for rotating said journals in said bearings to retract said arms to their vertical positions, second drive means interposed between said bearings and a pair of connecting rods connected on their inner extremities with said second drive means, projecting through said passages in said journals, and connected on their outer extremities with said arms whereby said first drive means may be actuated to extend said arms to their horizontal position and said second drive means may be actuated to draw said connecting rods inwardly to clamp said arms on a load carried on said load platform. 4. Load stabilizing apparatus as set forth in claim 1 for use on a forklift truck and wherein:

said actuating means includes first fluid drive means for rotating said arms about their respective first axes and second fluid drive means for rotating said arms about their respective second axes; and said control means includes control handle means disposed adjacent the forklift truck operators platform for convenient access by the operator whereby said arms may be manipulated from said operator's platform. 5. Load stabilizing apparatus as set forth in claim 2 for use on a lift truck and wherein:

said control means includes a hydraulic valve for controlling fluid flow to said cylinder and including a control handle disposed adjacent the forklift operators platform for convenient access from said operators platform. 6. Load stabilizing apparatus as set forth in claim 3 for use on a lift truck and wherein:

said control means includes control handle means for controlling said first and second drive means and disposed adjacent the lift truck operator's platform for convenient access from the lift truck operators platform. 

1. Load stabilizing apparatus comprising: a load platform; a pair of arms disposed at opposite sides of said load platform; mount means carrying said arms at their bases for rotation about a first axis extending substantially horizontally and a second axis extending transverse to said first axis; actuating means coupled with said mount means for pivoting said arms about their respective first axes to selectively retract said arms from a horizontally projecting position to a vertical retracted position and for pivoting said arms about said second axis to move said arms from a release position to a clamping position; and control means for controlling said actuating means.
 2. Load stabilizing apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein: said actuating means includes a floating hydraulic cylinder disposed intermediate said arms and a pair of connecting rods connecting opposite ends of said cylinder with said respective arms and a hydraulic pressure source connected with said hydraulic cylinder for supplying hydraulic pressure thereto.
 3. Load stabilizing apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein: said mount means includes a pair of horizontally disposed bearings disposed adjacent the base of said arms, hollow journals carried in said bearings and formed with through passages, said arms being pivotally carried from the respective outer extremities of said journals, a coupling member offset from said journals and coupling them together; and said actuating means includes first drive means connected with said coupling member for rotating said journals in said bearings to retract said arms to their vertical positions, second drive means interposed between said bearings and a pair of connecting rods connected on their inner extremities with said second drive means, projecting through said passages in said journals, and connected on their outer extremities with said arms whereby said first drive means may be actuated to extend said arms to their horizontal position and said second drive means may be actuated to draw said connecting rods inwardly to clamp said arms on a load carried on said load platform.
 4. Load stabilizing apparatus as set forth in claim 1 for use on a forklift truck and wherein: said actuating means includes first fluid drive means for rotating said arms about their respective first axes and second fluid drive means for rotating said arms about their respective second axes; and said control means includes control handle means disposed adjacent the forklift truck operator''s platform for convenient access by the operator whereby said arms may be manipulated from said operator''s platform.
 5. Load stabilizing apparatus as set forth in claim 2 for use on a lift truck and wherein: said control means includes a hydraulic valve for controlling fluid flow to said cylinder and including a control handle disposed adjacent the forklift operator''s platform for convenient access from said operator''s platform.
 6. Load stabilizing apparatus as set forth in claim 3 for use on a lift truck and wherein: said control means includes control handle means for controlling said first and second drive means and disposed adjacent the lift truck operator''s platform for convenient access from the lift truck operator''s platform. 